Rehash Recap

Another issue of the magazine and we are back to our mundane activity of analysing ‘THE’ top 10 songs that are ruling the charts as we go into print. You ask why “mundane”? Cause this task is obviously becoming just a reflection of the routine music that has been trending on music charts in the last couple of months.

The new mantra definitely seems to be, “why create new music, when we can just rehash the old junk and turn it into a nationwide anthem yet again.” We’ve said it before and we are saying it again – talent has gone for a toss. And lapping it all up like kids in a candy store are all the national radio stations who are more than willing to pass it on “discerning” Bollywood music fans, day in and day out.

Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Tapsee Pannu gyrating to ‘Chalti Hai Kya 9 Se 12’ and ‘Oonchi Hai Building’ has definitely appealed to the current generation in the way it did the 90’s generation, as both make it to the top 10 on the charts.

Also on the charts is the title song from Golmaal Again and any similarity to the title songs of the several prequels is not “inspiration”. After all the franchise needs some semblance of continuity.

The other song from Golmaal Again, which is also in the top 10 is ‘Maine Tujhko Dekha’, which is an “inspiration”. Recorded by Rahul Sharma (AVM Studios) and Mixed & Mastered by Eric Pillai at Future Sound Of Bombay, the song is a “recreated” version of ‘Neendh Churayi Meri’ from Golmaal Star Ajay Devgan’s 90’s film Ishq, also starring Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla and Kajol. The song licensed from Sony Music India was originally composed by Anu Malik and penned by Rahat Indori.

Let’s look at the bright side – we still have six more slots on the top ten for creativity and originality.

We have a rocking number on the top 10 in the form of ‘Mere Rashke Qamar’ from the movie Baadshaho once again starring Ajay Devgan. Soulful music in Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice. Oh wait! Isn’t this the same Mere Rashke Qamar which was first performed in 1988 by Ustadji and made popular by him and his nephew Rahat Fateh Ali Khan several times in various concerts? Well Tanishk Bagchi did after all add his own touch to this song making it a chartbuster all over again. Further pushing the nostalgia and recollection quotient is the recording of the song in a female solo version by Tulsi Kumar as well as a ‘remix version’ by DJ Chetas.

Speaking of originality, the Bombay High Court did restrain Super Cassettes Industries Private Limited from releasing Baadshaho with the song ‘Keh Doon Tumhe’ which was inspired from the 1974 movie - Deewar. The court allowed Super Cassettes to release the film only after removing the “infringing” song.

Trimurti Films Private Limited, which holds the copyright to the song, since April 3, 1974, when it entered into contract with lyricist Sudhir Ludhianvi and composer R.D. Burman, had approached the High Court, seeking an injunction on the release of Baadshaho, citing infringement. On January 2, 1974, the company had entered into an agreement with Polydor of India Limited (now Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd.), granting Polydor the right to make and sell gramophone records of songs from Deewar, and the mechanical reproduction rights for this limited purpose. According to Trimurti Films, the right to use the sound recording or the underlying work, including lyrics and the tune, for any other purpose whatsoever, remains with them.

According to the counsel of the defendant, as per the 1974 agreement, rights to the song were sold to Polydor, and Super Cassettes procured the rights to use sound recordings in Baadshaho from them. The original song and the version used in Baadshaho was played in court and the court said the rights sold to Polydor could at the most be termed as sound recording rights, which are distinct from literary or musical rights. This by no stretch of imagination would permit Universal Music India to allow Super Cassettes to use the lyrics or music of the song in Baadshaho, it said.

Coming back to our top ten, we at least have five spots for original music.

Also trending on the charts is ‘Lag Ja Gale’ from the film Bhoomi and ‘Tere Bina’ from the film Haseena Parkar. No! Don’t jump your guns just yet (won’t blame you though if you did!)! It’s not the same ‘Lag Ja Gale’, composed by the late Madan Mohan and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, nor is it the same ‘Tera Bin Jiya Jaye na’ sung by the singing legend in the movie Ghar starring Rekha and Vinod Mehra.

While the new ‘Lag Ja Gale’ sung by Rahet Fateh Ali Khan, with lyrics by Priya Saraiya is composed by Sachin-Jigar, recorded by Julian Mascarenhas @Enzy Studios and Mixed and Mastered by Eric Pillai, ‘Tere Bina’, also penned by Priya Saraiya and composed by Sachin-Jigar, has been recorded at White Noise Studios and mixed and mastered by Abhishek Khandelwal @Yrf Studios.

‘Nazm Nazm’ from the Kriti Sanon and Ayushmann Khurrana starrer Bareilly Ki Barfi with music by Arko hints at originality but for some strange reason the tune instantaneously reminds you of the ‘Main Rang Sharbaton Ka’ song. This probably is because of the “So used to rehash that everything sounds familiar” syndrome. Vocals & Guitars recorded by Aditya Dev and mixed by Aditya Dev, and mastered by Shadaab Rayeen, the song finds itself a spot in the top 10.

Rising to the top of the music charts on the strength of its lyrics is ‘Meri Pyaari Ammi’ from the movie Secret Superstar. Produced & Arranged by Amit Trivedi, the song has been recorded at AT Studios, Mumbai & A M Studios, Chennai by Abhishek Sortey assisted by Urmila Sutar & Firoz Shaikh (AT Studios) and Siva Kumar, Pradeep Menon, Manoj Raman & Srinath (A M studios). Mixed by Shadab Rayeen at A T Studios and New Edge, Mumbai, the song has been mastered by Donal Whelan at Masteringworld - U.K.

The other song making it to the top ten is ‘Single Rehne De’ from the film Simran. Once again composed by Sachin-Jigar, the peppy ‘Single Rehne De’ has been mixed and mastered by Shadab Rayeen with Abhishek Sortey as assistant mix engineer.

That brings us to the end of the ‘rehash recap’ and leaves us with one burning question - How many more rehash recaps will we have to do, before Bollywood pulls up its sleeves and give us more than just repeat remix?